Your Smple Manual For A Pest-free Garden

Pesky Pests

Organic Garden Care in the United States

Visitors you can expect in your garden

Every gardener will, at some point, need to deal with pests. Whether they are bugs, slugs, or cute bunnies, pests can cause extensive damage to your garden. If you have problems, you might try to search for San Tan Valley Pest Control – All Clear Pest Control to find a solution. Below is a short, and by no means exhaustive, list of the nuisances you might find in your garden.

Grasshoppers

There are many species of this bug, but they mostly all look the same: long jumping legs, big eyes and narrow bodies. They are incredibly destructive and will tear large, ragged holes in plant leaves.

Corn Ear Worm

You will find yellow eggs for this worm on various parts of corn plants, as well as peas, peppers, geraniums, tomatoes, cotton, potatoes and squash. When laid on corn, the first generation will grow and feed on the leaves. Later generations will feast on the silks and top kernels of the corn ear.

Tomato Horn Worms

They may get their name from tomatoes, but you may also find them on other members of the nightshade family including peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. The adult moths lay their eggs on the underside of leaves from late spring to early summer.

Cabbage Looper

These little green worms will attack not only cabbage, but also broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. Loopers start by chewing ragged holes in the leaves of the plant. Later on in the season they will bore into the developing vegetable heads.

Mexican Bean Beetle

As the name implies, these pests enjoy munching on bean plants. You will find their adult and larval form on plant leaves, and they are partial to lima and snap pea varieties.

Flea Beetle

You may find one or more species of these beetles in your garden. They get their name from their enlarged hind legs which gives them the ability to jump like fleas. They enjoy eating the leaves of various plants and flowers. Common garden plants to find these pests on include carrots, peas, young corn, potatoes, and cauliflower.

Squash Bug

This bug is the larval form of a wasp like moth. You may not realize this bug is in your garden at first as it likes to tunnel into the stalks of melon and squash plants. They suck the sap and moisture out of the stalks, which kills the plant quickly.

Aphids

There are many species of aphids which range in color including green, yellow, light blue, and waxy white. They all tend to be the same size with a projection on their rear end called a cornicle. What plants they feed on depends on the species, but most garden plants are susceptible to aphid attacks.

Snails and Slugs

It can be difficult to distinguish insect damage from snail and slug damage. The telltale sign is the glistening “slime trails” these animals leave behind. They are most active at night, and will feed on leaves, stems and fruits of garden plants.

Rabbits

Mr. McGregor was right to chase Peter Rabbit out of the garden. While fuzzy and cute, rabbits are capable of wiping out entire crops overnight. They prefer young plants and tender shoots, and show a preference toward lettuce, broccoli and beans. Young rabbits are especially curious and will sample a variety of plants.